Two Popes, Two Saints

On Divine Mercy Sunday, April 27, 2014, Pope Francis canonized two of his predecessors, Pope John XXIII and Pope John Paul II. Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI also took part in the historical Mass. Present for the celebrations in St Peter's Square and elsewhere in Rome where a reported 800,000 people, with another billion people following the Mass online and on television all over the world.

The two latest additions to the list of saints will both be marked in October. Saint John XXIII's feast day is October 11, as that is the date he opened the Second Vatican Council in 1962. Saint John Paul II's feast day is on October 22, the date of his accession to the papacy in 1978.

If you'd prefer to watch the whole Mass, or you want to reexperience your favourite parts of it, you'll find a full video of the Mass here (in the original languages) and here (with commentary in English). For other languages, please visit the Vatican YouTube Channel page.